Graph Theory

Chapter 4
Varying Applications (examples)
◼ Computer networks
◼ Distinguish between two chemical compounds
with the same molecular formula but different
structures
◼ Solve shortest path problems between cities
Topics Covered
◼ Definitions
◼ Types
◼ Terminology
◼ Representation
◼ Sub-graphs
◼ Connectivity
◼ Hamilton and Euler definitions
◼ Shortest Path
◼ Planar Graphs
◼ Graph Coloring
Definitions - Graph

A generalization of the simple concept of a set

of dots, links, edges or arcs.
Representation: Graph G =(V, E) consists set of vertices
denoted by V, or by V(G) and set of edges E, or E(G)
Definitions – Edge Type
Directed: Ordered pair of vertices. Represented as (u, v)
directed from vertex u to v.

u v

Undirected: Unordered pair of vertices. Represented as {u, v}.

Disregards any sense of direction and treats both end vertices
interchangeably.

u v
Definitions – Edge Type
◼ Loop: A loop is an edge whose endpoints are equal
i.e., an edge joining a vertex to it self is called a loop.
Represented as {u, u} = {u}

◼ Multiple Edges: Two or more edges joining the

same pair of vertices.
Definitions – Graph Type
Simple (Undirected) Graph: consists of V, a nonempty set of
vertices, and E, a set of unordered pairs of distinct elements of
V called edges (undirected)
Representation Example: G(V, E), V = {u, v, w}, E = {{u, v}, {v,
w}, {u, w}} No self loop
no multiedge
u v

w
Definitions – Graph Type
Multigraph: G(V,E), consists of set of vertices V, set of
Edges E and a function f from E to {{u, v}| u, v V, u ≠ v}.
The edges e1 and e2 are called multiple or parallel edges if f
(e1) = f (e2).
Representation Example: V = {u, v, w}, E = {e1, e2, e3}

No self loop
but contain multiedge
u
e1 e2 w

e3
v
Definitions – Graph Type
Pseudograph: G(V,E), consists of set of vertices V, set of Edges E
and a function F from E to {{u, v}| u, v Î V}. Loops allowed in
such a graph.
Representation Example: V = {u, v, w}, E = {e1, e2, e3, e4}

contain self loop

and multi edge
u
e1 w e4
e2

v e3
Definitions – Graph Type
Directed Graph: G(V, E), set of vertices V, and set of Edges E,
that are ordered pair of elements of V (directed edges)
Representation Example: G(V, E), V = {u, v, w}, E = {(u, v), (v,
w), (w, u)}

u v

w
Definitions – Graph Type
Directed Multigraph: G(V,E), consists of set of vertices V, set
of Edges E and a function f from E to {{u, v}| u, v V}. The
edges e1 and e2 are multiple edges if f(e1) = f(e2)
Representation Example: V = {u, v, w}, E = {e1, e2, e3, e4}

u
w e4
e1 e2

v e3
Definitions – Graph Type

Type Edges Multiple Edges Loops Allowed ?

Allowed ?
Simple Graph undirected No No

Multigraph undirected Yes No

Pseudograph undirected Yes Yes

Terminology – Undirected graphs
◼ u and v are adjacent if {u, v} is an edge, e is called incident with u and v. u
and v are called endpoints of {u, v}

◼ Degree of Vertex (deg (v)): the number of edges incident on a vertex. A

loop contributes twice to the degree (why?).

◼ Pendant Vertex: deg (v) =1

◼ Isolated Vertex: deg (k) = 0

Representation Example: For V = {u, v, w} , E = { {u, w}, {u, v} }, deg (u) =

2, deg (v) = 1, deg (w) = 1, deg (k) = 0, w and v are pendant , k is isolated

u v
k

w
Terminology – Directed graphs
◼ For the edge (u, v), u is adjacent to v OR v is adjacent from u, u – Initial
vertex, v – Terminal vertex

◼ In-degree (deg- (u)): number of edges for which u is terminal vertex

◼ Out-degree (deg+ (u)): number of edges for which u is initial vertex

Note: A loop contributes 1 to both in-degree and out-degree (why?)

Representation Example: For V = {u, v, w} , E = { (u, w), ( v, w), (u, v) }, deg-

(u) = 0, deg+ (u) = 2, deg- (v) = 1,
deg+ (v) = 1, and deg- (w) = 2, deg+ (u) = 0

u v

w
Theorems: Undirected Graphs
Theorem 1
The Handshaking theorem:
2e   deg(v)
vV
sum of degree of verteces = 2 * edges
(why?) Every edge connects 2 vertices
 Theorems: Undirected Graphs
Theorem 2:
An undirected graph has even number of vertices with odd degree

Pr oof V 1 is the set of even degree vertices and V2 refers to odd degree vertices
2e   deg(v)   deg(u)   deg(v)
vV u  V1 v  V2

 deg (v) is even for v  V1,

 The first term in the right hand side of the last inequality is even.
 The sum of the last two terms on the right hand side of
the last inequality is even since sum is 2e.
Hence second term is also even
 second term  deg(u)  even
v  V2
Simple graphs – special cases
◼ Complete graph: Kn, is the simple graph that contains exactly
one edge between each pair of distinct vertices.

Representation Example: K1, K2, K3, K4

each vertex is connected to
every other vertex

K1 K2 K3
K4
Simple graphs – special cases
◼ Cycle: Cn, n ≥ 3 consists of n vertices v1, v2, v3 … vn and edges
{v1, v2}, {v2, v3}, {v3, v4} … {vn-1, vn}, {vn, v1}
Representation Example: C3, C4

C3 C4
Simple graphs – special cases
◼ Wheels: Wn, obtained by adding additional vertex to Cn and
connecting all vertices to this new vertex by new edges.
Representation Example: W3, W4

W3 W4
Bipartite graphs
◼ In a simple graph G, if V can be partitioned into two disjoint
sets V1 and V2 such that every edge in the graph connects a
vertex in V1 and a vertex V2 (so that no edge in G connects
either two vertices in V1 or two vertices in V2)
Application example: Representing Relations
Representation example: V1 = {v1, v2, v3} and V2 = {v4, v5, v6},

v4
v1

v5
v2

v6
v3

V1 V2
Complete Bipartite graphs
◼ Km,n is the graph that has its vertex set portioned into two
subsets of m and n vertices, respectively There is an edge
between two vertices if and only if one vertex is in the first
subset and the other vertex is in the second subset.
Representation example: K2,3, K3,3

K2,3 K3,3
Subgraphs
◼ A subgraph of a graph G = (V, E) is a graph H =(V’, E’) where V’ is a
subset of V and E’ is a subset of E
Application example: solving sub-problems within a graph
Representation example: V = {u, v, w}, E = ({u, v}, {v, w}, {w, u}}, H1
, H2

u u u

v w v w v

G H1 H2
Subgraphs
◼ G = G1 U G2 wherein E = E1 U E2 and V = V1 U V2, G, G1 and G2 are
simple graphs of G

Representation example: V1 = {u, w}, E1 = {{u, w}}, V2 = {w, v},

E1 = {{w, v}}, V = {u, v ,w}, E = {{{u, w}, {{w, v}}

u
u

w v
w w v

G1 G2 G
 Representation
◼ Incidence (Matrix): Most useful when information about
edges is more desirable than information about vertices.

◼ Adjacency (Matrix/List): Most useful when information

about the vertices is more desirable than information about the
edges. These two representations are also most popular since
information about the vertices is often more desirable than
edges in most applications
Representation- Incidence Matrix
 G = (V, E) be an unditected graph. Suppose that v1, v2, v3, …, vn
are the vertices and e1, e2, …, em are the edges of G. Then the
incidence matrix with respect to this ordering of V and E is the nx
m matrix M = [m ij], where

1 when edge ej is incident with vi

m ij  
0 otherwise
Can also be used to represent :
Multiple edges: by using columns with identical entries, since
these edges are incident with the same pair of vertices
Loops: by using a column with exactly one entry equal to 1,
corresponding to the vertex that is incident with the loop
Representation- Incidence Matrix
◼ Representation Example: G = (V, E)

v edges
e e1 e2 e3
u r
ti v 1 0 1
e1 e2 c
u 1 1 0
e
v w s w 0 1 1
e3

for incident matrix self loop we count 2

Representation- Adjacency Matrix
 There is an N x N matrix, where |V| = N , the Adjacenct Matrix
(NxN) A = [aij]

For undirected graph

1 if {vi, vj} is an edge of G
a ij  
0 otherwise
 For directed graph
1 if (vi, vj) is an edge of G
a ij  
0 otherwise

 This makes it easier to find subgraphs, and to reverse graphs if needed.

Representation- Adjacency Matrix
◼ Adjacency is chosen on the ordering of vertices. Hence, there
as are as many as n! such matrices.
◼ The adjacency matrix of simple graphs are symmetric (aij = aji)
(why?)
◼ When there are relatively few edges in the graph the adjacency
matrix is a sparse matrix
◼ Directed Multigraphs can be represented by using aij = number
of edges from vi to vj
 Representation- Adjacency Matrix
◼ Example: Undirected Graph G (V, E)

vertices
v
v u w
u e
r v 0 1 1
ti
c u 1 0 1
v w e
s w 1 1 0

n at place of 1 in n paths between 2 vertices

Representation- Adjacency Matrix
◼ Example: directed Graph G (V, E)

v u w
u
v 0 1 0

u 0 0 1
v w
w 1 0 0
Representation- Adjacency List
Each node (vertex) has a list of which nodes (vertex) it is adjacent

Example: undirectd graph G (V, E)

u
node Adjacency List

u v,w

v w, u
v w
w u,v
 Graph - Isomorphism
◼ G1 = (V1, E2) and G2 = (V2, E2) are isomorphic if:
◼ There is a one-to-one and onto function f from V1 to
V2 with the property that
◼ a and b are adjacent in G1 if and only if f (a) and f (b) are
adjacent in G2, for all a and b in V1. [Link] vertices are same
◼ Function f is called isomorphism [Link]. of edges are same
[Link] is same
[Link] to one
Application Example: correspondance with same
degree
In chemistry, to find if two compounds have the same
structure
Graph - Isomorphism
Representation example: G1 = (V1, E1) , G2 = (V2, E2)
f(u1) = v1, f(u2) = v4, f(u3) = v3, f(u4) = v2,

u1 u2 v1 v2

u3 u4 v4
v3
Connectivity
◼ Basic Idea: In a Graph Reachability among vertices
by traversing the edges
Application Example:
- In a city to city road-network, if one city can be
reached from another city.
- Problems if determining whether a message can be
sent between two
computer using intermediate links
- Efficiently planning routes for data delivery in the
Internet
Connectivity – Path
A Path is a sequence of edges that begins at a vertex
of a graph and travels along edges of the graph,
always connecting pairs of adjacent vertices.

Representation example: G = (V, E), Path P

represented, from u to v is {{u, 1}, {1, 4}, {4, 5}, {5,
v}}

2
1 v
3
u

4 5
 Connectivity – Path
Definition for Directed Graphs
A Path of length n (> 0) from u to v in G is a sequence of n
edges e1, e2 , e3, …, en of G such that f (e1) = (xo, x1), f (e2) =
(x1, x2), …, f (en) = (xn-1, xn), where x0 = u and xn = v. A path is
said to pass through x0, x1, …, xn or traverse e1, e2 , e3, …, en

For Simple Graphs, sequence is x0, x1, …, xn

In directed multigraphs when it is not necessary to distinguish

between their edges, we can use sequence of vertices to
represent the path

Circuit/Cycle: u = v, length of path > 0

Simple Path: does not contain an edge more than once

Connectivity – Connectedness
Undirected Graph
An undirected graph is connected if there exists is a
simple path between every pair of vertices

Representation Example: G (V, E) is connected since

for V = {v1, v2, v3, v4, v5}, there exists a path
between {vi, vj}, 1 ≤ i, j≤ 5
v4
v1 v3

v2 v5
Connectivity – Connectedness
Undirected Graph

◼ Articulation Point (Cut vertex): removal of a vertex

produces a subgraph with more connected components than in
the original graph. The removal of a cut vertex from a
connected graph produces a graph that is not connected
◼ Cut Edge: An edge whose removal produces a subgraph with
more connected components than in the original graph.
Representation example: G (V, E), v3 is the articulation point or
edge {v2, v3}, the number of connected components is 2 (> 1)

v3
v5
v1

v2
v4
Connectivity – Connectedness
Directed Graph
◼ A directed graph is strongly connected if there is a path from
a to b and from b to a whenever a and b are vertices in the
graph
◼ A directed graph is weakly connected if there is a
(undirected) path between every two vertices in the underlying
undirected path

A strongly connected Graph can be weakly connected but the

vice-versa is not true (why?)
Connectivity – Connectedness
Directed Graph
Representation example: G1 (Strong component), G2 (Weak
Component), G3 is undirected graph representation of G2 or G1

G1 G2 G3
Connectivity – Connectedness
◼ Directed Graph
Strongly connected Components: subgraphs of a
Graph G that are strongly connected
Representation example: G1 is the strongly connected
component in G

G G1
Isomorphism - revisited
A isomorphic invariant for simple graphs is the
existence of a simple circuit of length k , k is an
integer > 2 (why ?)
Representation example: G1 and G2 are isomorphic since we
have the invariants, similarity in degree of nodes, number of
edges, length of circuits

G1 G2
 Counting Paths
◼ Theorem: Let G be a graph with adjacency matrix A with respect to the
ordering v1, v2, …, Vn (with directed on undirected edges, with multiple
edges and loops allowed). The number of different paths of length r from
Vi to Vj, where r is a positive integer, equals the (i, j)th entry of
(adjacency matrix) Ar.

Proof: By Mathematical Induction.

Base Case: For the case N = 1, aij =1 implies that there is a path of length 1. This
is true since this corresponds to an edge between two vertices.

We assume that theorem is true for N = r and prove the same for N = r +1.
Assume that the (i, j)th entry of Ar is the number of different paths of length r from
vi to vj. By induction hypothesis, bik is the number of paths of length r from vi to vk.
Counting Paths
Case r +1: In Ar+1 = Ar. A,
The (i, j)th entry in Ar+1 , bi1a1j + bi2 a2j + …+ bin anj
where bik is the (i, j)th entry of Ar.

By induction hypothesis, bik is the number of paths of length r from vi

to vk.

The (i, j)th entry in Ar+1 corresponds to the length between i and j
and the length is r+1. This path is made up of length r from vi to vk
and of length from vk to vj. By product rule for counting, the number of
such paths is bik* akj The result is bi1a1j + bi2 a2j + …+ bin anj ,the
desired result.
 Counting Paths
a ------- b
| |
| |
c -------d

A=0110 A4 = 8 0 0 8
1001 0880
1001 0880
0110 8008

Number of paths of length 4 from a to d is (1,4) th entry of A4 = 8.

 The Seven Bridges of Königsberg, Germany
◼ The residents of Königsberg, Germany, wondered if it
was possible to take a walking tour of the town that
crossed each of the seven bridges over the Presel river
exactly once. Is it possible to start at some node and
take a walk that uses each edge exactly once, and
ends at the starting node?
 The Seven Bridges of Königsberg, Germany

You can redraw the original picture as long as for every edge between
nodes i and j in the original you put an edge between nodes i and j in
the redrawn version (and you put no other edges in the redrawn
version).

Original:
2 3

4
Redrawn: 2

4 1
3
 The Seven Bridges of Königsberg, Germany

Euler:

◼ Has no tour that uses each edge exactly once.

◼ (Even if we allow the walk to start and finish in different places.)
◼ Can you see why?
Euler - definitions
◼ An Eulerian path (Eulerian trail, Euler walk) in a graph is a
path that uses each edge precisely once. If such a path exists,
the graph is called traversable.

◼ An Eulerian cycle (Eulerian circuit, Euler tour) in a graph

is a cycle that uses each edge precisely once. If such a cycle
exists, the graph is called Eulerian (also unicursal).

◼ Representation example: G1 has Euler path a, c, d, e, b, d, a, b

a b

c d e
 The problem in our language:

Show that is not Eulerian.

In fact, it contains no Euler trail.

Euler - theorems
1. A connected graph G is Eulerian if and only if G is connected
and has no vertices of odd degree

2. A connected graph G is has an Euler trail from node a to

some other node b if and only if G is connected and a  b are
the only two nodes of odd degree
Euler – theorems (=>)
Assume G has an Euler trail T from node a to node b (a and b
not necessarily distinct).

For every node besides a and b, T uses an edge to exit for each
edge it uses to enter. Thus, the degree of the node is even.

1. If a = b, then a also has even degree. → Euler circuit

2. If a  b, then a and b both have odd degree. → Euler path

Euler - theorems
1. A connected graph G is Eulerian if and only if G is connected
and has no vertices of odd degree

a b

f c d

Building a simple path:

e {a,b}, {b,c}, {c,f}, {f,a}

Euler circuit constructed if all edges

are used. True here?
Euler - theorems
1. A connected graph G is Eulerian if and only if G is connected
and has no vertices of odd degree

c d

e
Delete the simple path:
{a,b}, {b,c}, {c,f}, {f,a}

C is the common vertex for this

sub-graph with its “parent”.
Euler - theorems
1. A connected graph G is Eulerian if and only if G is connected
and has no vertices of odd degree

c d

Constructed subgraph may not be connected.

e C is the common vertex for this sub-graph

with its “parent”.

C has even degree.

Start at c and take a walk:

{c,d}, {d,e}, {e,c}
Euler - theorems
1. A connected graph G is Eulerian if and only if G is connected
and has no vertices of odd degree

a b

f c d
“Splice” the circuits in the 2 graphs:
{a,b}, {b,c}, {c,f}, {f,a}
“+”
e {c,d}, {d,e}, {e,c}
“=“
{a,b}, {b,c}, {c,d}, {d,e}, {e,c}, {c,f}
{f,a}
Euler Circuit
1. Circuit C := a circuit in G beginning at an arbitrary
vertex v.
1. Add edges successively to form a path that returns to this
vertex.
2. H := G – above circuit C
3. While H has edges
1. Sub-circuit sc := a circuit that begins at a vertex in H that
is also in C (e.g., vertex “c”)
2. H := H – sc (- all isolated vertices)
3. Circuit := circuit C “spliced” with sub-circuit sc
4. Circuit C has the Euler circuit.
 Representation- Incidence Matrix

e1 e2 e3 e4 e5 e6 e7
e1

a b a 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

e2 b 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
e7
e3 c 0 1 1 0 1 1 0
f c d
d 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
e6
e5 e 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
e e4
f 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
 Hamiltonian Graph
◼ Hamiltonian path (also called traceable path) is a path that visits
each vertex exactly once.

◼ A Hamiltonian cycle (also called Hamiltonian circuit, vertex tour or

graph cycle) is a cycle that visits each vertex exactly once (except for
the starting vertex, which is visited once at the start and once again at
the end).

◼ A graph that contains a Hamiltonian path is called a traceable graph.

A graph that contains a Hamiltonian cycle is called a Hamiltonian
graph. Any Hamiltonian cycle can be converted to a Hamiltonian path
by removing one of its edges, but a Hamiltonian path can be extended
to Hamiltonian cycle only if its endpoints are adjacent.
A graph of the vertices of a dodecahedron.

Is it Hamiltonian?

Yes
.
 Hamiltonian Graph

This one has a Hamiltonian path, but not a

Hamiltonian tour.
Hamiltonian Graph

This one has an Euler tour, but no Hamiltonian path.

 Hamiltonian Graph
◼ Similar notions may be defined for directed graphs, where edges (arcs)
of a path or a cycle are required to point in the same direction, i.e.,
connected tail-to-head.

◼ The Hamiltonian cycle problem or Hamiltonian circuit problem in graph

theory is to find a Hamiltonian cycle in a given graph. The Hamiltonian
path problem is to find a Hamiltonian path in a given graph.

◼ There is a simple relation between the two problems. The Hamiltonian

path problem for graph G is equivalent to the Hamiltonian cycle
problem in a graph H obtained from G by adding a new vertex and
connecting it to all vertices of G.

◼ Both problems are NP-complete. However, certain classes of graphs

always contain Hamiltonian paths. For example, it is known that every
tournament has an odd number of Hamiltonian paths.
Hamiltonian Graph
◼ DIRAC’S Theorem: if G is a simple graph with n
vertices with n ≥ 3 such that the degree of every
vertex in G is at least n/2 then G has a Hamilton
circuit.

◼ ORE’S Theorem: if G is a simple graph with n

vertices with n ≥ 3 such that deg (u) + deg (v) ≥ n
for every pair of nonadjacent vertices u and v in G,
then G has a Hamilton circuit.
Shortest Path
◼ Generalize distance to weighted setting
◼ Digraph G = (V,E) with weight function W: E  R (assigning
real values to edges)
◼ Weight of path p = v1  v2  …  vk is
k 1
w( p)   w(vi , vi 1 )
i 1

◼ Shortest path = a path of the minimum weight

◼ Applications
◼ static/dynamic network routing

◼ robot motion planning

◼ map/route generation in traffic

Shortest-Path Problems
◼ Shortest-Path problems
◼ Single-source (single-destination). Find a
shortest path from a given source (vertex s) to
each of the vertices. The topic of this lecture.
◼ Single-pair. Given two vertices, find a shortest
path between them. Solution to single-source
problem solves this problem efficiently, too.
◼ All-pairs. Find shortest-paths for every pair of
vertices. Dynamic programming algorithm.
◼ Unweighted shortest-paths – BFS.
Optimal Substructure
◼ Theorem: subpaths of shortest paths
are shortest paths
◼ Proof (”cut and paste”)
◼ if some subpath were not the shortest
path, one could substitute the shorter
subpath and create a shorter total path
Negative Weights and Cycles?
◼ Negative edges are OK, as long as there are no
negative weight cycles (otherwise paths with
arbitrary small “lengths” would be possible)
◼ Shortest-paths can have no cycles (otherwise we
could improve them by removing cycles)
◼ Any shortest-path in graph G can be no longer
than n – 1 edges, where n is the number of
vertices
Shortest Path Tree
◼ The result of the algorithms – a shortest path tree. For each
vertex v, it
◼ records a shortest path from the start vertex s to v.
[Link]() gives a predecessor of v in this shortest path
◼ gives a shortest path length from s to v, which is recorded in
v.d().
◼ The same pseudo-code assumptions are used.
◼ Vertex ADT with operations:
◼ adjacent():VertexSet

◼ d():int and setd(k:int)

◼ parent():Vertex and setparent(p:Vertex)

 Relaxation
◼ For each vertex v in the graph, we maintain v.d(), the estimate
of the shortest path from s, initialized to at the start
◼ Relaxing an edge (u,v) means testing whether we can improve
the shortest path to v found so far by going through u

u v u v
2 2 Relax (u,v,G)
   
if v.d() > u.d()+G.w(u,v) then
Relax(u,v) Relax(u,v) [Link](u.d()+G.w(u,v))
[Link](u)
 2   2 
u v u v
Dijkstra's Algorithm
◼ Non-negative edge weights
◼ Greedy, similar to Prim's algorithm for MST
◼ Like breadth-first search (if all weights = 1, one can simply use
BFS)
◼ Use Q, a priority queue ADT keyed by v.d() (BFS used FIFO
queue, here we use a PQ, which is re-organized whenever some
d decreases)
◼ Basic idea
◼ maintain a set S of solved vertices

◼ at each step select "closest" vertex u, add it to S, and relax

all edges from u
Dijkstra’s Algorithm
◼ O(n2) operations
◼ (n-1) iterations: 1 for each vertex added to
the distinguished set S.
◼ (n-1) iterations: for each adjacent vertex of
the one added to the distinguished set.
◼ Note: it is single source – single
destination algorithm
Traveling Salesman Problem
◼ Given a number of cities and the costs of traveling from one to
the other, what is the cheapest roundtrip route that visits each
city once and then returns to the starting city?

◼ An equivalent formulation in terms of graph theory is: Find the

Hamiltonian cycle with the least weight in a weighted graph.

◼ It can be shown that the requirement of returning to the

starting city does not change the computational complexity of
the problem.

◼ A related problem is the (bottleneck TSP): Find the Hamiltonian

cycle in a weighted graph with the minimal length of the longest
edge.
Planar Graphs
◼ A graph (or multigraph) G is called planar if G can be drawn in the plane with
its edges intersecting only at vertices of G, such a drawing of G is called an
embedding of G in the plane.

Application Example: VLSI design (overlapping edges requires extra layers),

Circuit design (cannot overlap wires on board)

Representation examples: K1,K2,K3,K4 are planar, Kn for n>4 are non-planar

K4
Planar Graphs
◼ Representation examples: Q3
 Planar Graphs
◼ Representation examples: K3,3 is Nonplanar

v1 v2 v3 v1 v5 v1 v5

R21
R2 R1
R1 R22
v3

v4 v5 v6 v4 v2 v4 v2
Planar Graphs
Theorem : Euler's planar graph theorem
For a connected planar graph or multigraph:
v–e+r=2

number
number number of regions
of vertices of edges
Planar Graphs
Example of Euler’s theorem

A planar graph divides the plane

R1 into several regions (faces), one
K4 R4
R2 of them is the infinite region.

v=4,e=6,r=4, v-e+r=2
R3
Planar Graphs
◼ Proof of Euler’s formula: By Induction
Base Case: for G1 , e1 = 1, v1 = 2 and r1= 1

v
u
R1

n+1 Case: Assume, rn = en – vn + 2 is true. Let {an+1, bn+1} be the

edge that is added to Gn to obtain Gn+1 and we prove that rn = en –
vn + 2 is true. Can be proved using two cases.
 Planar Graphs
◼ Case 1:

rn+1 = rn + 1, en+1 = en + 1, vn+1 = vn => rn+1 = en+1 – vn+1 + 2

an+1

bn+1
 Planar Graphs
◼ Case 2:

rn+1 = rn, en+1 = en + 1, vn+1 = vn + 1 => rn+1 = en+1 – vn+1 + 2

an+1

R
bn+1
Planar Graphs
Corollary 1: Let G = (V, E) be a connected simple planar graph with
|V| = v, |E| = e > 2, and r regions. Then 3r ≤ 2e and e ≤ 3v – 6
Proof: Since G is loop-free and is not a multigraph, the boundary of
each region (including the infinite region) contains at least three
edges. Hence, each region has degree ≥ 3.
Degree of region: No. of edges on its boundary; 1 edge may occur
twice on boundary -> contributes 2 to the region degree.
Each edge occurs exactly twice: either in the same region or in 2
different regions

an+1

R
bn+1
Region Degree

R Degree of R = 3

Degree of R = ?

R
Planar Graphs
Each edge occurs exactly twice: either in the same region or in 2
different regions
2e = sum of degree of r regions determined by 2e
2e ≥ 3r. (since each region has a degree of at least 3)
r ≤ (2/3) e
From Euler’s theorem, 2 = v – e + r
2 ≤ v – e + 2e/3
2 ≤ v – e/3
So 6 ≤ 3v – e
or e ≤ 3v – 6
 Planar Graphs
Corollary 2: Let G = (V, E) be a connected simple planar graph then
G has a vertex degree that does not exceed 5
Proof: If G has one or two vertices the result is true
If G has 3 or more vertices then by Corollary 1, e ≤ 3v – 6
2e ≤ 6v – 12
If the degree of every vertex were at least 6:
by Handshaking theorem: 2e = Sum (deg(v))
 2e ≥ 6v. But this contradicts the inequality 2e ≤ 6v – 12
There must be at least one vertex with degree no greater than 5
Planar Graphs
Corollary 3: Let G = (V, E) be a connected simple planar graph with
v vertices ( v ≥ 3) , e edges, and no circuits of length 3 then e ≤ 2v
-4
Proof: Similar to Corollary 1 except the fact that no circuits of length
3 imply that degree of region must be at least 4.
Planar Graphs
◼ Elementary sub-division: Operation in which a graph are
obtained by removing an edge {u, v} and adding the vertex w
and edges {u, w}, {w, v}

u v u w v

◼ Homeomorphic Graphs: Graphs G1 and G2 are termed as

homeomorphic if they are obtained by sequence of elementary
sub-divisions.

they are obtained from same graph

 Planar Graphs
◼ Kuwratoski’s Theorem: A graph is non-planar if and only if it
contains a subgraph homeomorephic to K3,3 or K5
Representation Example: G is Nonplanar
a
b a b b
a

c
j

d
c
c
h e
i
k e
d
g f d
e H K5
g
f
G
Graph Coloring Problem
◼ Graph coloring is an assignment of "colors", almost always
taken to be consecutive integers starting from 1 without loss of
generality, to certain objects in a graph. Such objects can be
vertices, edges, faces, or a mixture of the above.

◼ Application examples: scheduling, register allocation in a

microprocessor, frequency assignment in mobile radios, and
pattern matching
Vertex Coloring Problem
◼ Assignment of colors to the vertices of the graph such that proper
coloring takes place (no two adjacent vertices are assigned the same
color)
◼ Chromatic number: least number of colors needed to color the graph
◼ A graph that can be assigned a (proper) k-coloring is k-colorable, and
it is k-chromatic if its chromatic number is exactly k.
Vertex Coloring Problem
◼ The problem of finding a minimum coloring of a graph is NP-Hard
◼ The corresponding decision problem (Is there a coloring which uses at
most k colors?) is NP-complete
◼ The chromatic number for Cn = 3 (n is odd) or 2 (n is even), Kn = n,
Km,n = 2 Cn = circuit , Kn = complete graph
◼ Cn: cycle with n vertices; Kn: fully connected graph with n vertices;
Km,n: complete bipartite graph
chromatic number of complete graph = no of vertices

C4 C5
K4 K2, 3
Vertex Covering Problem
◼ The Four color theorem: the chromatic number of a planar
graph is no greater than 4
◼ Example: G1 chromatic number = 3, G2 chromatic number = 4
◼ (Most proofs rely on case by case analysis).

G1 G2